Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Prediction for Friday November 6 2026
Boston heads to Charlotte on Friday night for a 7 PM ET game against the Hornets at Spectrum Center. The Celtics just beat Milwaukee 109-102 on Wednesday, while Charlotte lost 114-104 to Brooklyn. That’s five straight losses for the Hornets, and now they get a Boston team that’s been playing pretty good basketball. The Celtics have the better record and the better defense. I know road games can get tricky, but this looks like a good spot for Boston. Get into the action with our free NBA picks.
Boston Celtics Have Been Getting the Job Done
Boston is 6-2 after beating Milwaukee by seven Wednesday. The Celtics had lost 109-93 to Houston on Monday, so getting back in the win column was important. They also beat Orlando 108-97 on Sunday. Boston hasn’t been blowing everybody out, but it’s winning games without needing a spectacular offensive performance every night.
The Celtics are averaging 114.3 points while allowing 108.3. That’s a six-point difference, and the defense has been a big reason for the strong start. Boston doesn’t need to score 125 to win. Against Charlotte, I’d expect the Celtics to make the Hornets work for their shots and take advantage when Charlotte gets careless with the ball.
The availability of Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard needs to be watched before tipoff. Boston has enough depth to handle some changes, but those are important offensive pieces. Derrick White and Paul George give the Celtics other ways to create offense, and Boston should still have the advantage if its defense plays the way it has lately.
Charlotte Hornets Can’t Get Their Offense Going
Charlotte is 3-6 after losing to Brooklyn on Wednesday. The Hornets also got hammered 124-91 by Detroit on Monday, so things haven’t been going particularly well. Five straight losses will do that to a team. Charlotte has been struggling to score, and the schedule isn’t giving it much of a break.
The Hornets are averaging only 98.1 points per game while allowing 109.2. That’s the lowest scoring average in the league. Charlotte has been having trouble getting quality shots, and now it faces a Boston defense that’s allowing just over 108 points a night. That’s not a matchup I’d be excited about if I were a Hornets fan.
Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams are listed out, while Coby White’s availability is worth checking. Those absences make an already difficult offensive situation even tougher. Charlotte needs somebody to get hot from outside because I don’t see the Hornets consistently scoring inside against Boston.
Boston Celtics vs Charlotte Hornets Picks and Prediction
Moneyline Pick: Boston Celtics
I’m taking Boston. Charlotte has lost five straight and is scoring fewer than 100 points a game. That’s a tough way to approach a matchup against a Celtics team that’s been winning with defense. Boston doesn’t have to play a perfect game here. Just make Charlotte work for its points, avoid giving away easy baskets, and the Celtics should have enough offense to win. The injuries are worth watching, but Boston is still the team I trust.
Total Pick: Under 218.5 Points
Give me the under 218.5 if that’s the line. Charlotte is averaging 98.1 points, and Boston has been keeping opponents around 108. The Celtics have played some lower-scoring games lately, including that 109-102 win over Milwaukee and the 108-97 victory against Orlando. The concern is Boston getting hot from three and putting up a big number against Charlotte’s defense. But I don’t think the Hornets contribute enough to turn this into a shootout. Something like 111-99 makes sense.
Final Picks: Boston Celtics Moneyline | Under 218.5 Points (if available)
Disclaimer: This preview was completed on November 5, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.